Apparatus and method of making ventilated fruit cushions



B. M. HOBLICK Sept. 9, 1952 Filed April 27, 1948 INVENTOR.

BENJAMIN M. HOBLICK ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 9, 195 2 7 2,610,134 g I I APPARATUS ANDMETHOfi OF'M KING vs 'nLA'rsn FRUIT CUSHIONS Benjamin M. Hoblick, Fresno, cant, assignor to Blake, Moflitt &:Towne, San Francisco, Calif a corporation of California Application April 27, isias r alm. 23,556

7 Claims. (Cl. 154-29) invention relates to an apparatus and a method for making ventilated fruit cushions of the type more fully explained in my prior Patent No. 2,500,412, issued-March 14, 1950,

On'eof the objects of this invention is the provision'of' a simple and eificient method of insuring open ventilated openings in the coverings for fruit cushions and another object of the invention isthe provision of simple and improved means formaking said openings and for holding them In the packaging of fresh fruit for shipment, the fruit is usually packed in standard lug boxes. Heretofore the pre-cooling of said fruit for shipment in refrigerator carshas been difficult because the fiow of airhas actually been impeded by the cushions. Byusing a cushion of quite open fibrous material, such as excelsior, the cooling air is more easily and more uniformly distributed through th fruit that is supported on such pad and also the cushion helps to prevent injury to the fruit,

However, considerable dimculty has been encountered in economically making pads having envelopes that have" fully open perforationsso that theci-rculation of the cooling-air ispossible; The useof rotary punches enables fast economical punching out of the cushion but the pieces'punched out to provide the holes are not cleanly punched out, and this results in the holes beingstopped up 'by the punched out pieces swingingback into the holes. l

"Bythe present'invention a practical and simple means is provided for folding the cut out portio'ns mentioned in the foregoing paragraph flat against the sheet from which they are' punched, thereby tending to prevent their unfolding or bending back to positions closing the holes, and the said pieces are held in open position by the cushioning material, whereby theirretention in open'position is practically assured under any circumstances. y

Other objects and advantages may appear in the description and in thedrawings.

-- ln-th'e drawingsf i Fig. 1.-is a semi-diagrammatic view' of apparatus adapted to be used for accomplishing the desired results of thepresent invention.

- Fig. 2 a top plan view of the'apparatus of Fig 1 ..r-1'=.i' 9 t J Fig.3 is a fragmentary enlarged'se'ctional view of the rotary punch and die at their adjacent are punched; i

-=Fig. 4 is a top plan view, partially broken away, of a fruit cushion at one stage in its formation andFig. 5 is a top plan view of the finished cushion, partially brokenaway atone corner;

sides, including the paper from which the holes r In detail, one side of the fruit cushionmay be formed from astrip lof' paper that is fed from a roll 2. This-strip l extends below a rotary die 3 in engagement with said die. i

Die 3 isa hollow cylinder l having holesS' or recesses formed therein.' Cylinder 4 is secured one. central shaft 6 that projects from opposite ends, said ends being journalled in bearings carriedby a supporting frame I: 1 l 1 r Adjacent the rotary die 3 isa'rotary punch 8. Punch 8 comprises a cylinder 9 having openings 10 (Fig. 3) formed therein. The punchelements ll maybe bolts that threadedly extend" through openings in from inside the cylinde'r, The outer ends of said bolts project radially outwardly of the cylinder and are unthreaded. These unthreaded outer ends are} complementary in shape and outline to the openings or recesses 5 indie 3.

Theheads I2 of the bolts are inside cylinder 9 and a lock nut l3 on each bolt is adapted to lock each bolt in adjustedposition. 'By loosening the 'lock nutsthe bolts may be readily removedoradjusted. l

The punch elements II, which are the outer endsof the bolts in the present instance, do not fitsufliciently close in the openings! to cleanly punch out the paper inasmuch as the die and punch rotate in opposite directions and the punch elements must enter and leave the holes during movement =of-both the holes and the punch elements inarcuate paths that make a close fit impossible. An inter-meshing of the punch and die occurs'by this structure.

Cylinder Sis alsosecured on a central shaft l5that projects outwardly of the ends of the cylinder, said-shaft being journalled at said ends in bearings that may be carried by the same frame 1 that carries the die; 7

Cylinders 4, 9 are preferably spaced apart as indicated-in Fig; 3 and said-cylinders are of the same diameter. The spacing between said cylinders is preferably about one-sixteenth of'an inch where each of the cylinders is about eight inches in diameter, and the walls of said cylinders may be approximately one-quarter of an inch in thickness. These dimensions are not necessarily critical, and are merely being given as examples of satisfactory structure. p

In the drawings, the openings 5 are shown as being circular, which: shape is not absolutely necessary, although Whatever shape is given to the openings should also be given, in complementary form, t the punch elements.

Shafts 6, l5 have intermeshing gears 20, .2!

at one of their ends which maintain the desired timing of thepunch and die (Fig.2).

The strip I; as already explained, passes below I die 3 in engagement therewith and then up- .the strip I continues substantially horizontally over an elongated base 22 (Fig. 1)

The punch and die are not power driven in the the attached trailing edge of each piece becomes the leading edge.

present instance, but their rotation is effected.

through pulling strip I after the latter passes punch 8. The punch elements II are s'ufiiciently close together in direction circumferentially of will always be in the holes that have been punched out. This insures a positive engagement between strip I and cylinder 9, and as the two cylinders are geared together, they will rotatetogetuer' in between them and over punch 8.

At this point iti pertinent to make note of the fact that the strip I is not only of sufficient width to coverone side of the cushioningmaterial that will befed onto the same at a later point, but its width is sufficient to enable its longitudinally extending marginal portions 23 (Fig. 2-)to,b folded over two opposite edges of thecushioning material; and over the opposite side of the latter to points nearly centrally positioned over theoppositeupper side ofthe cusho in m er 1 Y .2

lnthe finished cushion the main central portion of strip ;I will form; thetop of the cushion audits; marginal portions. will be on the bottom.

1 The punch elements II are arranged to partially punch out openings in the main central portion of the strip I and two rows of punch elements 25 (Fig. 2) that'are respectively positioned alongthe opposite outer sides of the centrally; positioned elements II are slightly larger in diameter than the punch elements I I and are positioned to punch out. rows of holes 26 that are larger than the holes 21 thatareqpunchedout by elements II These, holes 26 will be positioned at two of the opposite edges of the cushioning materialinthe final pad. 01 cushion when IRfQ Fming the openings 26, 21, all of the mathe. cylinder 9 so that a plurality of said elements they engage said element.

This element 30 is inclined transversely of its length in downward direction generally. in the direction of movement of the strip .1 so that the pieces 28 will not be torn from the strip when Element 39 may be stationarily carried bya portion of the main frame I of the machine.

'Beyond the element 30 the excelsior 3I is fed .onto strip I in the form of a continuous strip,

said 'excelsior being formed into a strip in a con-' I 'ventional feed hopper 32 from which it is drawn opposite directions as the strip is pulled from terial Qfthestrip I in each opening is separated from the strip except-at: he trailing edges of the open ng therefore,;the part 28 (Figs. 1, 3)

so punched out ison the strip. Any attempt. to r tear these pieces 28: from the strip. will result in tearing the strip. Such tearing would usually make the cushion defective for a fruit cushion by opening up the perforations to the point where the fruit would contact the 'excelsior withinthe cushion. It ispertinent; to note that the smaller openings 21 are preferably designed so that fruit,

suchasfresh grapes, will, not engage the excelsior.

The-openings 26 arealong. the edges. of the cushion. therefore, they can be. larger thantheopenings 21' and preferably are larger in order to freely admit air from the usual cracks or spaces that are along the "juncture between the sides and the bottom of conventional lug box.

The pieces 28 tend to fold back into the openings resulting-fro'm punching them tofone side of and is passed between an idler roller 33 that is over the strip i. This roller guides the strip of excelsior onto the strip I and into engagement with the upper side of the latter so that the pieces 28 will be held fiat against the upper side of strip I from unfolding to positions covering the hole 27. 1

Beyond the roller 33 is a pair of conventional.

3| centrally thereof so that the glued marginalportions of the strip I will be folded into overlying position over the marginal portions of the strip35 at a point beyond that in which strip 35 is positioned against the excelsior. 1 a

. A rotary punch 38 and a rotary die 31 of the same structure as the punch 8 and die 3 form the openings it in strip 35, except that. said openings are of uniform size and may be slightly larger than openings 21, if desired. A scraper element 38 over the strip 35 will bend the pieces 39 rearwardly relative to the direction of travel of strip 35. A soon as the strip 55 is positioned against the excelsior, th latter will function t hold the pieces 39 from folding back-to positions closing the. holes 36.

Conventional folding plows or members All function to -fold the glued marginal portions of strip lover the marginalportions of. strip 35 and any suitable rollers 42 driven. by any suit able source of power 43 will functionto pull the enclosed excelsior, including. the tubular envelope, along a path of travel in one direction.

'Any conventional cutter (not'show'n) may cut the excelsior and its, envelope transversely of the length thereof into uniform lengths (Fig. 4) for:

the cushion, and conventional devices (not shown) may glue end closure,- strips 45 over the open ends-of the cushions (Fig. 5). No claimfls made in this application to the cushion in itself, such cushion being shown 'and described steps. of partially punching out pieces: of said,

sheet to one side thereof leaving said. pieces connected to. said. sheet atv correspondingly positioned edges of the openings from which they.

have been punched, then folding said pieces against said sheet in directionv away from said openings; and thereafter positioning one side. of.

said cushioning material against the. pieces so. folded to-hold said pieces from closing said opent-1.5.;

, 2. 11 the making 'of ventilated, fruit cushions: of the type in which atleast. one side of; cosh-- ioning material is covered by a sheet of paper, the steps of partially punching out pieces of said sheet to one side thereof leaving said pieces connected to said sheet at correspondingly positioned edges of the openings from which they have been punched, then folding said pieces against said sheet in direction away from said openings, and thereafter positioning one side of said cushioning material against the pieces so folded to hold said pieces from closing said openings, then positioning a strip of paper over the other side of said cushioning material and securing said sheet and said strip together to hold said sheet against said cushioning material during handling of the cushion and to retain the cushioning material between said sheet and said strip.

3. In the making of ventilated fruit cushions of the type in which cushioning material is held between strips of paper, the steps of partially punching out pieces of one such strip to one side thereof and to positions correspondingly inclined in direction generally longitudinally of said strip over the openings from which they have been punched, moving said strip longitudinally thereof in a path of travel in one direction in which the trailing edges of said pieces are the edges connected with the strip, folding said pieces at a point in said path to positions in which said pieces fully uncover said openings and in which their edges that are connected with said strip become the leading edges, securing a strip of cushioning material against the pieces so folded for holding said pieces from unfolding, and subsequently securing another such strip to said one strip to enclose said cushioning material.

4. In the making of ventilated fruit cushions of the type in which cushioning material is held between a pair of paper strips, the steps of partially punching out pieces of said strips to positions inclined in direction generally longitudinally of said strips over the openings from which they have been punched, moving said strips longitudinally thereof in separate paths of travel in which the trailing edges of said pieces are the edges connected with said strips, folding said pieces at a point in said path to positions in which said pieces fully uncover the openings from which they have been punched and in which their edges that are connected with said strips are the leading edges, moving said strips in the same general direction to positions one above the other with the said pieces at the adjacent sides of said strips, positioning a strip of cushioning material between said strips and in engagement with the said pieces for holding them in positions uncovering said openings, and securing said pair of strips together in positions at opposite sides of said cushioning material.

5. In apparatus for making ventilated fruit cushions, a rotary punch and a rotary die respectively provided with a circumferentially extending row of complementarily formed intermeshing male and female die elements adapted to partially punch pieces of a sheet of paper to one side of such sheet along substantially all edges of such pieces except their trailing edges upon such sheet being moved in one direction between said punch and die, and means positioned to engage said one side of said sheet after the latter has been moved past said punch and die for bending said pieces away from the openings formed by punching said pieces from said sheet so that the said trailing edges of said pieces will become the leading edges after movement of said sheet past said means, and means for feeding cushioning material into engagement with said pieces for holding them in their positions bent away from said openings.

6. In apparatus for making ventilated fruit cushions. a support for rotatably supporting a strip of paper in the form of a roll thereon which paper is adapted to form one of the sides of said cushions, a rotary punch and a rotary die respectively provided with circumferentially extending rows of complementarily formed. intermeshing punch and die elements adapted to partially punch pieces from said strip of paper to one side of said strip along substantially all edges of such pieces except their trailing edges upon such strip being moved between said punch and die in one direction, means positioned adjacent said punch and die for engaging saidone side of said strip for folding said pieces against said strip to one side of the openings during movement of said strip past said means, and

means for feeding cushioning material into engagement with said folded pieces for holding the latter from unfolding to positions covering said openings.

7. In apparatus for making ventilated fruit cushions, a support for rotatably supporting a strip of paper in the form of a roll thereon which paper is adapted to form one of the sides of said cushions, a rotary punch and a rotary die respectively provided with circumferentially extending rows of complementarily formed intermeshing punch and die elements adapted to partially punch pieces from said strip of paper to one side of said strip along substantially all edges of such pieces except their trailing edges upon such strip being moved between said punch and die in one direction, means positioned adjacent said punch and die for engaging said one side of said strip for folding said pieces against said strip to one side of the openings during movement of said strip past said means, and means for feeding cushioning material into engagement with said folded pieces for holding the latter from unfolding to positions covering said. openings, said first mentioned means comprising a stationary scraper extending across said strip in engagement with the side of the strip from which said pieces project, and means for moving said strip and said cushioning material together along a predetermined path of travel after said cushioning material has been fed into engagement with said pieces.

BENJAMIN M. HOBIJCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN THE MAKING OF VENTILATED FRUIT CUSHIONS OF THE TYPE IN WHICH AT LEAST ONE SIDE OF CUSHIONING MATERIAL IS COVERED BY A SHEET OF PAPER, THE STEPS OF PARTIALLY PUNCHING OUT PIECES OF SAID SHEET TO ONE SIDE THEREOF LEAVING SAID PIECES CONNECTED TO SAID SHEET AT CORRESPONDINGLY POSITIONED EDGES OF THE OPENINGS FROM WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN PUNCHED, THEN FOLDING SAID PIECES AGAINST SAID SHEET IN DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID OPENINGS, AND THEREAFTER POSITIONING ONE SIDE OF SAID CUSHIONING MATERIAL AGAINST THE PIECES SO FOLDED TO HOLD SAID PIECES FROM CLOSING SAID OPENINGS.
 5. IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING VENTILATED FRUIT CUSHIONS, A ROTARY PUNCH AND A ROTARY DIE RESPECTIVELY PROVIDED WITH A CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENDING ROW OF COMPLEMENTARILY FORMED INTERMESHING MALE AND FEMALE DIE ELEMENTS ADAPTED TO PARTIALLY PUNCH PIECES OF A SHEET OF PAPER TO ONE SIDE OF SUCH SHEET ALONG SUBSTANTIALLY ALL EDGES OF SUCH PIECES EXCEPT THEIR TRAILING EDGES UPON SUCH SHEET BEING MOVED IN ONE DIRECTION BETWEEN SAID PUNCH AND DIE, AND MEANS POSITIONED TO ENGAGE SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID SHEET AFTER THE LATTER HAS BEEN MOVED PAST SAID PUNCH AND DIE FOR BENDING SAID PIECES AWAY FROM THE OPENINGS FORMED BY PUNCHING SAID PIECES FROM SAID SHEET SO THAT THE SAID TRAILING EDGES OF SAID PIECES WILL BECOME THE LEADING EDGES AFTER MOVEMENT OF SAID SHEET PAST SAID MEANS, AND MEANS FOR FEEDING CUSHIONING MATERIAL INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PIECES FOR HOLDING THEM IN THEIR POSITIONS BENT AWAY FROM SAID OPENINGS. 